BEIRUT: Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah Thursday confirmed that talks were ongoing with Daesh (ISIS) for a ceasefire.

Speaking in a live televised speech as Hezbollah and Syrian forces gain ground against Daesh (ISIS) in Syria’s western Qalamoun, Nasrallah discussed the objective of Hezbollah's battle against Daesh militants on the Syrian side of the Lebanese border, starting with its impact on Lebanon.

"Securing the Lebanese-Syrian border completely ... entails at least distancing Daesh from the border towards the Syrian interior so that it is no longer a threat and ‘bleeding’ the Lebanese Army."

He said that if the Army was on the border and Daesh was on the Syrian side of the border, “it means that Daesh is still confronting the Army."

Nasrallah said the second objective is to secure the border completely and the third was to discover the fate of nine kidnapped Lebanese soldiers with Daesh.

"These goals are the assumed ones,” he said while moving on to outline Hezbollah’s objectives on the Syrian side of the border.

"On the Syrian side, the main goal is to regain control of all western Qalamoun to the Lebanese-Syrian border, meaning kicking Daesh out of the area completely.

Nasrallah said Daesh was only present now in Deir al-Zor other than the remaining area in the border town."

On Wednesday, the Lebanese Army held a news conference announcing that out of the original 120 sq. km. controlled by Daesh, 100 sq. km had been recaptured and that 20 sq. km remain.

Nasrallah went on to say that there were 60 sq. km. remaining of Daesh-held territories with 20 sq. km on the Lebanese side, which the Army spoke of, and 40 sq. km on the Syrian side.

"In Syria, there were at least 310 sq. km to be liberated and as of this morning 270 sq. km were liberated."

He described the large peak that Daesh militants still control that is spread across both Lebanese and Syrian territories.

"Currently, the Daesh militia is surrounded in this area in the middle of the vast area and they are right in the center."

"There are 20 sq. km [of the peak - Halimat Qara -] in Lebanon and 40 sq. km in Syria. It is the last remaining Daesh outpost and is the highest points in the area that is left [in Daesh hands].”

The Hezbollah leader confirmed that dozens of Daesh militants have been killed in Syria and dozens had handed themselves over to Hezbollah or the Syrian Army.

"There is confusion among the [Daesh] gunmen and they are looking for any way out."

Responding to some critics of the process and lengthiness of the battle, Nasrallah requested patience and asked for people not to place pressure.

"Everyone should know this - in Lebanon and in Syria should know - that when the area is smaller, the fighting is more intense and the cost is be higher. If the Army commands [of Syria and Lebanon] are keen on preserving their troops they should tackle this in a mindful and precise way.”

He outlined why he believed that the next phase would be more difficult, saying "Civilians with Daesh that were widespread over hundreds of kilometers are now in a small area and both sides are keen on not inflicting harm to civilians and Daesh usually takes shelter behind civilians as we saw in [Iraq’s] Mosul.”

"The presence of civilians will necessitate professionalism and expert work from the army commands."

Speaking of the negotiations for a ceasefire, Nasrallah confirmed, “Daesh contacted Hezbollah to begin negotiations in western Qalamoun. When we agree on everything the cease-fire will be the first thing to come into effect but no cease-fire will come before negotiations are completed."

Nasrallah said that any negotiations would be contingent on revealing the fate of the nine missing Lebanese soldiers.

"The Syrian leadership is keen on the success of any agreement to find the fate of the kidnapped servicemen but [if they are found in Syria, their return] would be conditional on an official request from the Lebanese government to the Syrian government,” he said in reference to differing political sides in Lebanon over having official contact with the Syrian regime.

"But despite the negotiations for a cease-fire, the most likely outcome of the battle is military and not a settlement."

"I tell the Lebanese, all of them, you are on the verge of a huge victory and you should rejoice and be proud,” Nasrallah said.

He concluded by touching on main staples of Hezbollah rhetoric, saying: "Victory is the result of the Golden Equation of the People, the resistance and the Army and in this instance we have to add the Syrian Arab Army - whoever wants to be upset by this then go ahead, but it’s true."